Chapter 4

Before he could finish, Ravenpaw fainted.

"SPOTTEDLEAF!" the golden she-cat with darker stripes and green eyes yowled.

Spottedleaf left her den and went straight to Ravenpaw. She sat down and examined his wounds. Spottedleaf rolled him over and checked on the bigger wound. It was deep and it was bleeding profusely. Spottedleaf ran back to her den, got a couple of cobwebs, came out, and applied them to Ravenpaw's wound. She looked over at the golden she-cat.

"It's alright, Goldenflower, his wounds aren't fatal, but I need to stop the bleeding." Spottedleaf meowed.

She nodded as Spottedleaf continued dressing the wound. After a few moments, she gently carried Ravenpaw to her den. Bluestar and the clan just sat there, wondering who had died, and were worried and scared; Bluestar was more worried and scared than anyone else. Suddenly, a big, dark brown tom with black stripes, long claws, and amber eyes entered the camp, was carrying the lifeless body of a small tortoiseshell tom with a ginger tail, dragged it into camp, and set it down. Shocked cries and wails echoed the camp. Tears were in Greypaw's eyes.

"Uncle Redtail." He meowed.

Bluestar approached the body; her eyes were wide with horror.

"How did this happen, Tigerclaw?" she asked.

"He died with honor, struck down by Oakheart. I couldn't save him, but I managed to take Oakheart's life while he was gloating over his victory. Redtail's death was not in vain, for I doubt we'll see Riverclan hunters in our territory ever again." He explained.

"Oakheart…" Bluestar whispered in dismay.

"Who's Oakheart?" Firepaw asked.

"Oakheart's the deputy of Riverclan. He's one of the greatest warriors in the forest. He's also Bluestar's mate and the father to their kits." Greypaw explained.

Firepaw nodded and looked at Bluestar sympathetically. Tears swelled in her eyes, she buried her head into Redtail's fur, and started to cry. Cats closest to Redtail gathered around his body and mourned. His mate, his kit, his closest friends, his mentor, his apprentice, his siblings, and his nieces and nephews all gathered around him and mourned. Firepaw looked over as Spottedleaf left her den and was horrified by the sight of Redtail's dead body.

"My brother." Spottedleaf whispered.

She walked over and sat next to Redtail's body. Tears swelled in her eyes. Spottedleaf looked over at Bluestar and noticed that she was too inconsolable to speak, so, Spottedleaf lowered her head and flattened her ears; tears were streaming from her eyes.

"Redtail was a brave warrior. His loyalty to Thunderclan could never be doubted. Bluestar relied on his judgement, for it bore witness to the needs of the clan and was never swayed by self-interest or pride. He would've made a fine leader." She meowed.

Spottedleaf laid down and placed her nose on Redtail's head.

"And you were a good brother, Redtail. May you walk with mom, dad, and Leopardfoot in Starclan." She whispered.

After a while, the clan wanted to leave Redtail's mate, kit, and apprentice alone to mourn. Bluestar went into her den with Whitestorm behind her, Spottedleaf went to her den to check on Ravenpaw, and everyone went back to what they were doing or the dens. Greypaw returned to Firepaw and sat down.

"Boy, Dustpaw's upset." He commented.

"Dustpaw?" Firepaw meowed confused.

"Redtail's apprentice. That dark brown tom over there. I wonder who his new mentor will be?" Greypaw explained.

Firepaw nodded. He looked over and saw the young cat laying next to a pale ginger she-cat with darker stripes and was crying. Firepaw looked over at the highrock and wondered on how a cat could loose so much in one day.

"How long will Bluestar be her den?" he asked.

"She won't be in there that long, she'll want to say goodbye to Redtail too." Greypaw meowed.

"How long will she sit with him?" Firepaw asked.

"The whole night. It's custom for the clan leader, deputy, medicine cat, and the deceased cat's closest friends and family to hold vigil for the deceased one last time. Since I'm his nephew, I have to be there." Greypaw explained.

"Oh, I'm sorry about your uncle." Firepaw meowed.

"It's alright, he was a good uncle." Greypaw meowed.

"And what about Bluestar?" Firepaw asked.

"Redtail was Bluestar's deputy for many, many moons, she won't let him go too quickly. He was one of the best warriors. Not as big and powerful like Tigerclaw or Lionheart, but quick and clever." Greypaw continued.

"What about Oakheart? Will Bluestar hold vigil for him too?" Firepaw asked.

"No, not in Riverclan at least. Cats with mates from other clans hold vigils within their own clan. Bluestar will hold vigil for Oakheart here too." Greypaw meowed.

He turned around and headed for the medicine cat den. Firepaw followed him.

"I didn't know cats could have mates with cats from other clans." He meowed in disbelief.

"Yeah, they can, but it's rare." Greypaw replied.

"Rare?" Firepaw meowed confused.

"Most cats choose not to have mates with cats from other clans, they're complex and both cats have to agree to stay loyal to their clans." Greypaw explained.

"But what if they have kits? You mentioned that Bluestar had kits with Oakheart." Firepaw meowed confused.

"Well, most cats allow their mates to see their kits when they meet at fourtrees, some let their mates see them only once at gatherings, and some just give their kits up for their mates to take care of. In this case, Bluestar gave her kits to Oakheart." Greypaw explained.

"But why?" Firepaw asked.

"Well, some cats speculate that she wanted to be deputy and gave her kits up, because there was another cat that also was in the position to be deputy. Bluestar gave birth around the time the old deputy was retiring." Greypaw explained.

Both cats reached the medicine cat den and saw that Tigerclaw was at the entrance.

"So Spottedleaf, do you think you can save him? I've spent a lot of time training him up, and I don't want my efforts to be wasted at the first battle." He meowed.

"Yes, a pity, after all your valuable training, he dies in his first fight eh?" she teased.

"Will he live?" Tigerclaw asked unfazed.

"Of course, he just needs to rest." Spottedleaf meowed.

Suddenly, Tigerclaw started jabbing at Ravenpaw with one of his claws. Firepaw thought he heard a deep growl come from him.

"Come on, then get up!" Tigerclaw growled.

"Not so fast, Tigerclaw! This apprentice needs to keep as still as possible until the cut has healed. We don't want him opening his wound by jumping about trying to please you, leave him alone." Spottedleaf scolded.

The way she said that made Firepaw, Greypaw, and Tigerclaw uneasy. Spottedleaf was still upset about her brother's death. She lashed her tail in annoyance and her ears were flattened, but her eyes show no anger.

"Even you know better than to argue with a medicine cat, Tigerclaw." Spottedleaf meowed annoyed.

"I wouldn't dare argue with you, aunt Spottedleaf." He meowed apologetically.

"Aunt? Does that mean…" Firepaw asked.

"Yep, Tigerclaw's my cousin and Spottedleaf's my aunt." Greypaw explained.

Tigerclaw's ears perked and he turned around. He approached the two apprentices and seemed to be towering over them.

"Who's this." Tigerclaw asked.

"He's the new apprentice, his name is Firepaw." Greypaw explained.

"He smells like a kittypet, kittypets don't have powers." Tigerclaw scoffed.

"I was a house cat, but now I'm going to train to become a warrior. Plus, I have powers." Firepaw meowed boldly.

Tigerclaw looked at him in disbelief, but after a while, it seemed like he had remembered something and looked at Firepaw with sudden interest.

"Ah yes, now I remember. Bluestar mentioned that she had stumbled across a stray kittypet with powers, I almost didn't believe her. So she's actually going to try you out, eh?" Tigerclaw meowed.

"That's right." Firepaw meowed.

"Hmm, then I shall watch your progress with interest." Tigerclaw meowed.

He walked away as Firepaw and Greypaw watched him leave.

"Do you think he liked me?" Firepaw asked.

"I don't think Tigerclaw likes any apprentices, but you being a kittypet with powers did surprise him." Greypaw meowed.

"Did you see the length of that claw." he whispered.

"Too right. I know I wouldn't want to get into a fight with him." Greypaw replied.

Just then, Ravenpaw moved his head a bit and opened his eyes.

"Is he gone?" he asked.

"Who, Tigerclaw? Yep, he's gone." Greypaw reassured.

"Hi, I'm…" Firepaw begin introducing.

"Go away, both of you! How am I supposed to help this cat with all these interruptions?!" Spottedleaf meowed impatient.

Firepaw flinched and Greypaw's ears flattened with embarrassment.

"Sorry Aunt Spottedleaf, come on, Firepaw, I'll show you around. See you later, Ravenpaw." he meowed.

Both cats walked away and went across the clearing. Ravenpaw moved his head a bit at Spottedleaf.

"I'm sorry about your brother, Spottedleaf." he meowed.

"Thank you. I know this wasn't your fault, there was nothing you or Tigerclaw could've done." She signed.

"I wish that was true." Ravenpaw whispered.